Chess Strategy

by Bogdan Girmacea

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If in previous lesson we saw how the things could evolve by changing hanging pawns configuration pushing c pawn, in today’s lesson we will analyze what happens after we push d-pawn. And as example I would like to show you the game Korchnoi - Karpov, Merano 1981. The opening was a Queen’s Gambit and after 12 moves we reached the position presented in the diagram:

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Be7 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 0-0 7. e3 b6 8. Rc1 Bb7 9. Be2 Nbd7 10. cxd5 exd5 11. 0-0 c5 12. dxc5 bxc5

We have a typical position with hanging pawns for Black. For the moment the situation is still complex because there are still many pieces on board. So White will try to simplify position and Black will try to complicate game and to prolong middle game as long as possible. As we can see, those hanging pawns controlling d4 and e4 central squares leaves White with less space for maneuver, that’s why White is a bit limited in moves. In this game Korchnoi tried a series of maneuvers to double rooks on d-file and to press over pawn d5, but we will see it won’t be enough. The game continued:

13. Qc2 Rc8 14. Rfd1 Qb6 15. Qb1
To be honest, playing against hanging pawns is not easy at all, I faced it on my own skin many times in practice. But Qb1 is a rather dubious move. It’s true that Korchnoi wanted to flee with his queen from c-file, but there were other moves that could have been considered, for example 15. Bb5 Re8 16. Bxd7 Nxd7 17. Bxe7 Rxe7 and this simplified position is easier to play for white.

15…Rfd8 16. Rc2 Qe6!

A very nice move! Black realizes a great collaboration of all his pieces: d5 pawn is defended once more, the bishop from e7 is protected so the knight from f6 is free to go, that queen from e6 can easily support an attack on kingside and the most important thing, it actually prevents Rcd2 move which would lead to material loses for White after 17. Rcd2 Ne4 18. Nxe4 dxe4 19. Bxe7 exf3! 20. Bxd8 fxe2 21. Rxd7 Qg4!

17. Bg3 Nh5!
Although Black is supposed not to trade pieces, sometimes it is important to know which pieces to trade in order to get a positional advantage. So this is a good time to exchange white’s active bishop which will give Black’s hanging pawns a greater dynamic potential.

18. Rcd2 Nxg3 19. hxg3 Nf6
Also possible was 19…Nb6 in order to leave f6 square for the bishop.

20. Qc2
Very late, White’s queen is trying to improve its position heading for a4 to exploit the weak position of Black’s pawns.

20…g6 21. Qa4 a6 22. Bd3 Kg7 23. Bb1 Qb6! 24. a3?

This is a serious mistake that gives Black possibility to break in the center with d4 after a long preparation. Now we can see the point of Qb6 move which supports d4 break at the right moment. All Black pieces are ready for attack and they wait for a signal. And that signal came!!

24…d4! 25. Ne2
This is forced, anything else except Ne2 was losing. For example if White captures on d4 let’s see what happens: 25 exd4 Bc6! 26. Qc2 Bxf3 27. gxf3 cxd4 28. Na4 Qb5 and Black stands better.

The game continued:

25…dxe3 26. fxe3 c4!

A great move by Karpov that activates his bishop from e7, prevents movement of b2 pawn which can become a target in the future, creating a big hole on b3 and attacking weak e3 pawn. Adding that Black has bishop pair in an open position and better pawn structure we can conclude that Black stands really great here and Karpov proved that by winning this game at move 43. I won’t provide the whole game since it’s not part of our topic. I hope this game and my comments would help all of you to have a better view of how to use the dynamic potential of hanging pawns. For the serious players I recommend study of following games:

a) Petrosian - Botvinik, Moscow 1963
b) Capablanca - Lasker, Havana 1921

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